Electrical connector housing having panel mounting and latching means



Apl'll 20, 1965 YQN 3,179,738

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING HAVING PANEL MOUNTING AND LATCHING MEANSFiled Nov. 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P" 1965. R. DE- LYON 3,17 3

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING HAVING PANEL MOUNTING AND LATCHING MEANSFiled Nov. 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELECTRICAL CQNNECTOR HOUSING HAVINGPANEL MUUNTING AND LATCHENG MEANS Ren de Lyon, Harrisburg, Pa., assignorto AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. 7 Filed Nov. 7, 1962, Ser. No.236,061 I 7 Claims. (Cl. 174-50) This invention relates to separableelectrical connector assemblies for disengageably connecting a pluralityof conductors.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved separable connectorhousing, both parts of which can be formed as a unitary molding. Afurther object is to provide a connector housing having positivelatching means for holding the two parts of the connector inengagement-with each other. A still further object of the invention isto provide a'housing having improved means for mounting on a panel orwall. A'still further object is to provide an electrical connector whichcan be mounted ends by means of integral struts in a manner such thatthe rearward endsof the housing units can be moved relatively towardseach other upon deformation of the struts.

By virtue of this arrangement, this socket part of the connectorassembly can be inserted partially through an opening in the panel.Forwardly facing abutments are provided on the oppositely facing sidesof the housing units so that after partial insertion of the housingunits through the panel opening, these abutments or shoulders 'will bearagainst the one side of the panel and prevent withdrawal thereof fromthe panel. In order positively to lock this connector part to the panel,I provide flexible stopsin the form of a bridge or a beam supported at'each end which'connects theremaining pairs of adjacent sides of thehousing units.

These flexible stops each have a rearwardlyfacing surface, the plane ofwhich is parallel to the planes of the abovementioned abutments orshoulders so that the stops are resiliently deformed and bear againstthe opposite side of the panel after insertion. The stops thus functionto press the shoulders against the panel and securely lock the connectorpart in place.

The mating section of the connector, the plug, comprises two housingunits which are spaced apart and integrally joined along their opposingsides by a strut member and which are adapted to enter the forward endsof the housing units of the socket part. Latch means for securing thetwo connector parts together after assembly is provided in the form of apair of latch bars located between the two housing units of the plug andmounted on integral struts which extend between the housing units, thestruts, the housing units, and the latch bars being formed as anintegral molding. At their rearward ends, the latch bars have projectingfinger grip portions which extend beyond the surface of the housingwhile their forward ends have reversely directed hooks forengagementwith the connecting struts of the. socket portion of theassembly. The two parts of the connector assembly can thus be engagedwith each other by merely "grasping the finger grip sections of thelatching bars of the plug portion, depressing these latch bars, movingthe United States Patent O "ice connector parts into engagement witheach other and releasing the latch bars to permit their hooked ends toengage the strut members of the socket portion.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a connector plug and socket inaccordance with the invention.

TGURES 2 and 3 are views taken along the lines 2-2 and 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the plug and socket portions inengagement with each other and illustrating the function of the latchingbars.

FIGURES Sand 6 are views illustrating the manner in which the socketmember is mounted in an opening in a panel or wall. 7

Referring first to FIGURE 1 in the drawing, the dis closed embodiment ofthe invention comprises a connector assembly consisting of a plugsection 2 and a socket section 4, each of which sections contains a plu-8, 8'. These struts are separated by an off-center slot 14 and extendonly partially along the opposing walls of the forward housing sections8, 8' so that the rearward ends of the housing sections 6, 6' can bemoved relatively towards and away from each other with concomitantelastic deformation of the struts. The rearward sides of these strutsfunction as shoulders for engagement by a latch arm as more fullydescribed below.

The sides 16,16 of the rearward sections of the housing. units whichface outwardly and in opposite directions have adjacent to their extremerearward ends, bosses 18, 18'. which define forwardly facing shoulders19. These shoulders are adapted to bear against-one side of a panel P towhich the socket section 4 is secured. The adjacent coplanar parallelsides 20, 20' and 21, 21' of the rearward sections are integrally joinedby means of stops 24 which bridge these two members and which areintegral with their remote sides 16, 16 by means of upstanding lugs orbosses 22, 22'. The stops 24 are preferably of a substantial width andare generally curved towards the rearward ends of the receptacle memberso that they present a substantial bearing surface which is opposedindirection to the bearingsurfaces of shoulders 19. These stops areagain relatively flexible so that they can be elastically deformedduring use as is described below.

When it is desired to mount the socket section 4 in an opening in apanel P having a width substantially equal to or slightly greater thanthe distance between the sides 16, 16 the socket is aligned with theopening as indicated in FIGURE 5 and forced through the opening untilthe shoulders 19, 19' bear against the right hand side of the panel asviewed in FIGURES 5 and 6. During movement of the receptacle through thepanel, the stop 24 will be brought to bear against the lefthand side ofthe panel and will be flexed after the manner of a simple beam which isfixed at both ends. Thus, the stops 24 will tend to bias the two housingsections apart thereby to prevent accidental or unintentional removal ofthe housing receptacle from the panel. Advantageously, the distancebetween the plane of the shoulders 19 and the face of the stop 24 isless than the thickness of the panel in which the receptacle is mountedso that after mounting, the stops will not be permitted to return totheir normal condition but will rather be slightly elastically deformedand provide a continuing resilient force which both hold the shoulders19 closely against the opposite -web and slot arrangement.

side of the panel and biases the two housing sections 6, 6 away fromeach other.

The plug section 2 of my preferred embodiment comprises twosubstantially rectangular and substantially i identical housing units26, 26 which are secured together in side-by-side relationship by meansof an integral flat web 28 extending between their opposed sides. Thetwo housing units 26, 26 thus form a recess within which a latch arm 3-0is disposed. The location of this web is offcenter by the same amount asis the location of the slot 14, thus providing a convenient means ofpolarizing the two housing parts since they can be assembled in only theproper and intended manner by virtue of this off-center Latching arms30, are contained between the opposed faces of the housing units 26, 26adjacent to the tops and bottoms of the units and are integral with atorsionally deformable pin 34 which is also integral with the opposedsides of the housing units. At

-their forward ends as Viewed in FIGURE 2, the latch arms have inwardlydirected hook portions 32 adapted to be engaged with the ends of thestruts lit, 12 of the receptacle 4. At their rearward ends or theirlefthand ends ,as viewed in FIGURE 2, the latch arms extend above thesurfaces of the housing units and are integral with transverse fingerpiece sections 36. These finger piece sections extend across and bridgeboth of the housing units and are integral with each of the housingunits at their ends.

It will be apparent that when it is desired to engage the two connectorparts with each other, it is merely necessary to grasp the finger pieces36 between the thumb and forefinger, press them together to torsionallydeform the pin 34 and thereby raise the hooked ends of the latch arms,move the two parts into engagement with each other, and release thefinger pieces.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention is provided with cavitiesadapted to receive the hermaphrodite type vof contact terminal disclosedin US. Patent 2,891,103

although alternative types of contacts can be used. will be understoodthat with this type of contact, the ends of the contacts in socketsection 4 will be disposed in the hollow forward housing sections 8, 8'While the contacts in the plug 2 will be entirely contained in thecavities of the housing units 26, 26'.

A salient advantage of the invention is that it achieves both positivelocking of one of the connector parts, the socket 4, to the panel (byvirtue of the beam action stops .24 in cooperation with the shoulders19) and positive .locking of the plug member 2 to the socket member 4 byvirtue of the latching mechanism comprising the latch Moreover thesefunctions are achieved in a manner such that both the plug and thesocket member can be made as a single integral molding of a suitablerelatively firm plastic material such as a suitable nylon. The socketmember 4 can, moreover, be mounted in panels of varying thickness and inopenings of varying size.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

' gether at their forward ends by flexible strut means integral with theopposed sides of said units, the rearward ends of said units beingmovable towards and away from each other with concomitant deformation ofsaid strut means, said rearward ends having forwardly facing shoulderson a first pair of oppositely facing sides of said housing units, andbridge means connecting the remaining adjacent sides of each of saidhousing units, said bridge means having bearing surface portions facingrearwardly of said first part whereby upon insertion of said first partthrough an opening, said opposite ends are permitted to flex towardseach other with concomitant flexure of said bridge means, and afterpassage of said shoulder means through said opening, said bridge meansbiases said opposite ends apart and bears against said panel wherebysaid first part is retained in mounted position on said panel.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second disengageablepart comprises a pair of spaced-apart housing units which arecomplementary to and matable with said first part, a latch arm betweenthe opposed faces of said housing units of said second part, said latcharm being integral with a resilient torsionally deformable pin extendingbetween and integral with said opposed faces and being engageable withsaid strut means of said first part to secure said parts together.

3. An electrical connector housing consisting of two disengageableparts, a first one of said parts comprising a pair of side-by-sidespaced-apart housing units connected together at their forward ends byflexible struts integral with the opposed sides of said units, theopposite ends of said units being movable towards each other uponelastic deformation of said struts, said opposite ends having laterallyextending forwardly facing shoulders on a first pair of oppositeexternal sides of said first part, and bridges connecting the adjacentpairs of sides of said housing units of said first part, said bridgesextending laterally beyond said adjacent sides and being bowedrearwardly of said first part whereby, upon insertion of said first partthrough an opening in a panel, said opposite ends are permitted to flextowards each other with concomitant fiexure of said bridge means, andafter passage of said shoulder means through said opening, said bridgemeans biases said opposite ends apart and resiliently bears against saidpanel to retain said first part in said panel, said second partcomprising a pair of spacedapart housing units which are complementaryto and matable with said first part, a pair of latch arms between theopposed faces of said housing units of said second part, said latch armseach being integral with a torsionally deformable pin extendingtherebetween, said pin integral with said opposed faces, said latch armsbeing engageable with said strut means of said first part to secure saidparts together.

4. An electrical connector housing consisting of two disengageableparts, each part comprising a unitary molding, a first one of said partscomprising a pair of side-byside spaced-apart housing units connectedtogether at their forward ends by strut means, the second one of saidparts comprising a pair of spaced apart housing units connected byintegral torsionally deformable pin means extending between theiropposed faces, a latch arm integral with said pin means, said latch armhaving a hooked forward end for latching engagement with said strutmeans of said first part, rearward portions of said latch arm projectingbe yond the external surface of said second part thereby to permitrotary motion of said latch arm with concomitant torsional deformationof said pin upon engagement and disengagement of said parts.

5. An electrical connector housing consisting of two disengageableparts, each part comprising a unitary molding, a first one of said partscomprising a first pair of sideby-side spaced-apart housing units, astrut extending between the opposed sides of said first pair of housingunits at the forward ends thereof, said strut being integral with,

' and connecting, said opposed sides, said strut having surand anoff-center slot in said strut, the second part of said housingconsisting of a second pair of side-by-side spacedapart housing units,an off-center web integral with the op posed faces of said second pairof housing units, said Web being engageable with said slot thereby topolarize said two parts, and a pair of latch arms disposed between saidsecond pair of housing units, said latch arms being integralintermediate their ends with pivot pins integral with said housingunits, the forward ends of said arms having hook portions engageablebehind said struts, and the rearward ends of said latch arms extendingbeyond the surfaces of said second part thereby to permit rotary motionof said latch arms upon engagement and disengagement of said parts.

6. An electrical connector housing comprising two disengageable parts,each part comprising a unitary molding,

integral latch means for holding said parts in mated relationshipcomprising shoulder means on a first one of said parts and a latch armon a second one of said parts, said latch arm having a hook on one endthereof, said latch arm being disposed in a recess in said second partand being integral with a pin extending transversely across said recess,said pin being integral with said second part and being torsionallydeformable to permit rotation of said latch arm, and a finger pieceonsaid arm on the end thereof which is opposite to said first end whereby,upon depression of said finger piece, said parts can be engaged witheach other and upon release of said finger piece, said hooked endengages said shoulder means.

7. An electrical connector housing comprising two disengageable parts,each part comprising a unitary molding, integral latch means for holdingsaid parts in mated relationship, said latch means comprising shoulderson opposite sides of a first one of said parts and a pair of latch armson opposite sides of a second one of said parts, each of said latch armshaving hook means on one end thereof and each of said latch arms beingdisposed in a recess in said second part, said latch arms each beingintegral with torsionally deformable pins extending across saidrecesses, and each of said latch arms having a finger piece on its endwhich is opposite to said first end whereby, upon depression of saidfinger pieces said levers are swung about said pins to permit movementof said ends of said latch arms past said shoulder means and mating ofsaid parts, and upon release of said finger pieces, said ends of saidlatch arms engage said shoulder means to hold said parts together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,891,103 6/59Swengel 174-153 2,938,190 5/60 Krehbiel 339-426 X 3,038,703 6/62 Deakin339128 X 3,046,513 7/62 Crowley 3399l 3,057,001 10/62 Rapata 174-153 XJOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner. JOHN P. WILDMAN, Examiner.

6. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING COMPRISING TWO DISENGAGEABLE PARTS,EACH PART COMPRISING A UNITARY MOLDING, INTEGRAL LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDINGSAID PARTS IN MATED RELATIONSHIP COMPRISING SHOULDER MEANS ON A FIRSTONE OF SAID PARTS AND A LATCH ARM ON A SECOND OF SAID PARTS, SAID LATCHARM HAVING A HOOK ON ONE END THEREOF, SAID LATCH ARM BEING DISPOSED IN ARECESS IN SAID SECOND PART AND BEING INTEGRAL WITH A PIN EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID RECESS, SAID PIN BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAIDSECOND PART AND BEING TORSIONALLY DEFORMABLE TO PERMIT ROTATION OF SAIDLATCH ARM, AND A FINGER PIECE ON SAID ARM ON THE END THEREOF WHICH ISOPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST END WHEREBY, UPON DEPRESSION OF SAID FINGERPIECE, SAID PARTS CAN BE ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER AND UPON RELEASE OFSAID FINGER PIECE, SAID HOOKED END ENGAGES SAID SHOULDER MEANS.